MarshAngel
He stared at her blankly, silently as if he wasn't really seeing her. She was beginning to wonder of she'd miraculously developed another head or there was some monstrous growth in the center of her forehead that was so devastatingly horrendous he had lost all ability to speak at the sight of it. At any moment now he'd go into a panic and run screaming from the room.
"Andrew? Are you there?" Mina waved a hand in front of his face hoping to get his attention. She was on the verge of tears. If only he'd say something, let her know how he felt, give her something, anything to go on.
"I don't know what to say." He said finally after a pause that had been on the verge of driving her insane. This was not what she'd wanted to hear. She wanted to be comforted, and reassured that this little thing wouldn't change their relationship.
That was idealistic however. She knew when she told him who she was that it would change everything. She just hoped it would be for the better. She understood this would be difficult for him to accept but she wanted their relationship to continue to grow. She wanted him to be a father to her child.
They were both silent for a few more moments. His eyes expressed the fact that he was deep in thought while hers freely showed her concern and uncertainty. Finally he gave her a gentle smile, from across the small breakfast table.
"I'm sure that this will affect our lives greatly from this moment, on. I don't know how things will change but I'm sure they will. There is one thing I'm sure of though, I love you now, I'll always love you, no matter who you are or what you do."
Mina smiled brilliantly. She was so happy. He'd accepted this easier than she'd even dared to hope.
"Thank you," she whispered never feeling more grateful than she did right now. "Just one more thing."
"There's more?" He asked his eyes widening.
She couldn't help but smile. "No, I just wanted to know why did you just believe me without proof."
"I know you'd never lie to me, not about this." She was amazed at the
complete trust he had in her. Whether due to being pregnant or just a general
sense of complete joy, she burst into tears, only to find herself laughing
like a mad fool moments later. Life was beautiful, especially when it included
perfect men like Andrew.
Raye looked herself over in the mirror once more. She had bought the dress on a whim a while back, it had been too beautiful to resist despite the exorbitant amount she'd paid for it. Until this moment she had never truly felt justified in having paid such a high price as she had never found any reason to wear it. It was a long red silk gown covered in a second layer of sheer black fabric that hugged her body like second skin. It had long fitted sheer sleeves and was cut low in a square shape across her bust. The back was non-existent; making her feel rather self-conscious at the sight of the material draped low right above her butt. She slipped her feet into the torturous, however sexy, black heels she'd decided to wear for the night, and double-checked her makeup.
She knew there was some rule about making a man wait but she was too excited to be bothered. When he came to the door she'd be ready to go. This was their first sanctioned date and Jay had insisted on making it an event to remember. Even as she pushed another stray strand of her short hair behind her ear nervously, she heard the doorbell ring.
She gracefully hurried to the door and swung it open. Jay stood before her, a dozen red roses held directly below his chin. She kissed him lightly on the cheek, surprising him.
"Thank you."
"I think I'll have to remember to do this a lot."
"Yes you will," Raye said taking the flowers in hand and heading towards
the kitchen, with Jay behind her, for a vase of water for her new roses.
As she turned around, Jay got a glimpse of her bareback and the curves,
the dress hugged oh so smoothly. He let out a long whistle causing Raye
to turn, smiling and blushing.
"You like? I accept whistles but if I hear wolf calls…" He understood
the barely veiled threat.
"You look magnificent," he said. He took advantage of the opportunity to take her small waist in his hands and plant a gentle kiss on her neck.
"Oh no you don't!" She snapped turning in his arms, still smiling. "If you start now we won't ever get out of here, and I did not put this dress on just to stay home!" She planted a kiss on his nose as he groaned.
"Yes ma'am!" He answered.
They managed to make it through the door and down to his car without any further distractions. Although Jay had to admit her swinging hips, as she walked before him, were very distracting. She had a black cashmere shawl wrapped around her shoulders. He was tempted to throw her over his shoulders and carry her back upstairs. He resisted temptation however, knowing that she would hardly approve of any Neanderthal behavior at the moment.
Jay pulled up in front of what Raye knew to be the best and most expensive restaurant in Washington D.C. He actually assisted her out of the car, a dangerously chivalrous move in this the later part of the twentieth century. Jay glared at the doorman who was looking a little too intently at Raye's cleavage.
They seated themselves down to enjoy one of the most glorious of meals ever presented before them. Raye was however beginning to get suspicious despite how wonderfully perfect the evening was turning out. Jay had been even more attentive than usual but there was definitely something up. She chose to let his strange uncharacteristic nervousness slide so that she could chose this perfect moment to announce her choice to accept the position in LA as Mrs. Fordham's campaign manager. She had spoken with Julianne earlier today and the woman's charm had completely disarmed her. She had no doubt that they would become fast friends. She had yet to tell her father she would be moving, but that could wait until later. She wanted Jay to be the first one to know. Truthfully, in such a short time he'd become her best friend and in fact, her only real friend.
"Jay, I have some wonderful news!" Raye announced more gleeful than any jay had heard before. He was quite surprised, he thought tonight would be all his for announcements and such. He was willing to let her take a moment however.
"I've gotten a job representing Julianne Fordham. She's running for
the California Senator and she wants me to be her campaign manager. It's
so unbelievable!"
"Did you just say California?" Jay asked surprised. "As in, the state
I live in! You will be moving closer to me?" Jay asked disbelievingly.
"There is a god, and he loves me!" Jay whispered.
Raye smiled at first but gave into girlish giggles as she watched Jay close his eyes and thank God.
"It's nice to feel wanted," Raye commented sweetly.
"That has to be the understatement of the year."
"Whatever do you mean by that?"
"Well," Jay began taking a deep breath before taking the plunge, "I want you in every sense of the word, but there is so much more. I loved you for so long. Serena used to tell us so much about you I thought I knew you long before I had the chance to meet you. I have to admit that I finally got up the guts, tired of waiting and dragged myself all the way out here to meet you finally. I sucked up to your father to make the meeting between us a little less awkward. I hope you don't think I'm an obsessed stalker or anything, although I have to admit that wouldn't take too much imagination.
The simplest way to put this Raye, is to tell you, I love you. I loved you so long ago in times I know you don't really remember but when I saw you again I fell in love all over again. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out the small black box and flipped it open. Raye gasped in shock and tried to keep a hold of her consciousness. It was absolutely the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen and this had to be the most amazing experience of her life.
" I would be honored if you would take this ring, and bless me with the pleasure of becoming my wife." He slid the ring unto her finger and let out a deep breath, preparing for the moment in which her answer would change the rest of his life. 'Please say yes, please say yes,' he whispered in his mind.
Raye was momentarily speechless. She couldn't even begin to form the words her heart was pleading with her to say. 'say yes, say yes. Damn it say yes!' Her heart screamed at her.
"Yes, absolutely yes!" Raye replied exuberantly. She reached across the table and planted a kiss right on his lips.
Jay had expected an answer but he had only dreamed of one so enthusiastic.
Some of the restaurant's other customers were staring at them amusedly.
One man and his wife smiled and gave him two thumbs up. The newly engaged
couple turned two brilliant shades of red.
Nick's cell phone rang, causing the two newlyweds to start.
"I can't believe you brought that thing with you!" Lita groaned from her prone position on the lounge chair on her balcony. Beyond her the sun was setting before them over the clear blue Caribbean Sea. The sky was ablaze with the most beautiful shades of purple, pink, orange and blue and the sea sparkled like the ring on her finger that she and Nick had chosen just the day before.
"I couldn't very well leave it!" Nick replied. He flipped the
phone open as he sat up from the lounge chair. "Hello," he answered in
his deep voice.
"What do you know, it's for you." Nick said smiling.
Moments later, Lita was pacing the balcony as Nick admired her body, clad in a sexy emerald green bikini. He had never done anything so spontaneous, and life changing as marrying a woman he'd met in person only twice, if one were to count the day of their wedding. Not for a moment, especially considering the wonders of their honeymoon in the Bahamas thus far, regretted the impulsive act. He had not even informed his friends as yet. He would, instead surprise them later.
Watching Lita's shocked look and her hurried speech and pacing, she
had no doubt she had a surprise of her own. The person on the phone had
been Anthony, her boss, the man who had graciously allowed her to run off
with him.
When she'd turned off the phone, she turned to face him.
"You are not going to believe this! Anthony just had the most amazing offer for me. None of the other Chef's can take it because they all have family and commitments here but this is what I have always wanted to do!"
"What is it?" Nick asked tentatively.
"Anthony's opening more restaurants. He's had some help expanding to Miami, LA, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston. He wants me to take over as head chef for one of them. He says he already has a chef for San Francisco but the guy wants to move to Seattle and he knows you're from San Francisco and seeing as how we just got married, he wants me to take over!"
"The stars have certainly smiled on us! I thought I'd have to convince Mike to move to New York but if you're moving to San Francisco, this solves all our problems!"
"Isn't it great!" Lita hugged her husband. They hadn't even thought
about the problem of living on different ends of the country. This was
quite frankly the best wedding gift she could have ever hoped to receive.